RugbyU: Wales see tight Italy match despite Parisse absence

RugbyU: Wales see tight Italy match despite Parisse absence

Six Nations champions Wales expect a tight match against Italy here Saturday despite the hosts missing influential captain Sergio Parisse for the rest of the tournament.

Parisse is set to miss Italy's remaining three games after being handed a 30-day ban for insulting the referee last week while playing for club side Stade Francais.

The big number 8 is one of the driving forces in an Italy side which is steadily improving, and the numbers speak for themselves: in the last 10 years Italy have won only one Six Nations match without Parisse, against Scotland in 2010.

"They have only won game without him, which tells you all you need to know," said Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde. "He is a big player for them both in defence and attack. It will be interesting to see how Italy cope.

"That said, they have still got a big No 8 in Manoa Vosawai. He's going to be pose a different type of threat at the scrum and line-out."

Italy followed their tournament-opening 23-18 win over France at the Olympic Stadium earlier this month with a 34-10 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Wales, who fell 22-30 to Ireland in Cardiff, bounced back to stun France 16-6 in Paris last time out.